C++... definitey a plus plus...

It has been almost 1.5 yrs now, since the day I took my first class as a Teaching Assistant at IIIT. I always loved the job & I hope the students liked my teaching & approach too. But, these days, my classes have started becoming a bit stereotyped, since I was busy with GRE, FYP etc etc, didnot pay much attention on how to make them interesting & different. Today came the chance. I had free time & its my fav. topic C++ to be taught. hmm... sat idle for 20-30 mins, ran the C++ tape through my mind taperecorder, thinking about what needs to be done, how shuld I proceed. Then came a flash...

Not wasting any time, I put that plan into action. Used a PPT for the first time in a tute, just to make it different, colorful, interesting & more importantly funny :). Yes, it worked out pretty well. I could see all the students heartily laughing and paying more attention ( even some of the most serious fellas burst into laughter... ). BTW, if u r wondering wat it is, here it goes:

I basically divided the entire cpp into 4 modules for teaching. Funnily, named each module as C++ itself. The funda is as follows:
1. 'C' + '+' - C++ as an improved 'C' language
2. 'C'++ - C => Class here.
3. (SEE)++ - Scope of variables, clases etc in cpp. Inheritance, polymorphism etc come under this.
4. (SEA)++ - The extra stuff.. which has no end like a sea :).... Templates, STLs, friend functions etc etc.

hmm.. sounds good right?? I enjoyed the class a lot today, happy to see happier faces, joyful learning. Of course, the special effects in the power point added more fun to this. Thanx to Microsoft !!! Anyway, can't bask in this any more... has a tough task ahead.. i.e, I need to take a class for the entire batch next week.. huh.. new challenge. But, lemme make it well, bcoz this might be my last TA ship at IIIT, so.. let the thrust culminate at a higher level, bigger stage & hopefully on a winning note !!!

Atlas(t) shrugged !!!

The story of three budding researchers at IIIT...

Two dedicated researchers AK & KK working together since an year... one new cherubic researcher RC, an equilalent of the former two combined, joins hands with them, to conquer the final frontier..

AK & KK explain the work to RC. RC quickly grasps all the stuff, as is his usual routine. These three join hands with the permission from KK-senior (KK Sr. ) 10 days to go...

First 5 days.... AK's den is decided as the workplace... days swifly pass by in coming up with a rough plan, cleaning up the things despite interrupts from RC with his usual crass jokes :P, AK's lazy naps, KK's food fever. Things become serious from day 6. AK sits seperately working on some part...takes a break, goes to see how things r going in RC's room & gets amazed. KK & RC have come up with an algo ( & put a Pseudocode too ) for the problem. wow.. new energies show up & they start working with more enthusiasm.

Workplace shifted to RC's den... Rough draft is done & they talk to KK-Sr. about the same. He gets impressed with it & asks them to do things fast... these three work, work... n work, giving up the TT, Games, sometimes food, & obviously 'sound sleep'. day7 - they go out on a dinner with frenz to relax & recuperate energies for the last hectic days.

day8 - They find it difficult to implement a part of the work & drop it -- so, change of plans.. But they knew there is a threat from KK-Sr. if they don't do this. However, they decide to continue working & proceed. RC cribs in between, he has a test on day9.... anyhow, they finish the first formality - registers for the frontier.

day9 - RC does well in the test. AK & KK go to KK-Sr. for his consent regarding the change of plan. KK-Sr. doesnot agree initially & gives a hint to resign. But, seeing their faces, reconsiders his decision & asks them to get a final draft the next day. RC returns to work despite his tiresome test & work continues till 11 PM..... 12...1....2....3... 4.... huh !! they atlast sleep with a few tactics to handle KK-Sr. the next day.

day10 -
Three of them decide to work the entire final day & get things done. RC goes to classes... comes bak to join the other two at 1. RC & AK meet KK-Sr. once & fix a schedule.

1:00 - Only these three in lab.... RC drowses, AK's hungry ( skipped breakfast ), but the passinate KK continues...

2:00 - time for lunch... but starts raining heavily, so RC , KK stay back. AK, out of energy, calls PKV for rescue. But, returns in 30 mins to relieve the other two.

3:00 - RC & AK meet KK-Sr., shows him the almost final draft... KK-Sr. suggests a few things & ask them to meet at 6.

4:30 - After a nice slumber in the class, this time workplace shifts to KK-Sr's den. each take up a job & work till KK-Sr. arrives.

6:30 -

KK-Sr.: yeah. come along guys..

takes them to his palace. Our heroes feel happy, they r in high spirits. KK is on cloud-9, dreaming about something..

KK-Sr. discusses a few things with them. AK senses something is going wrong. KK-Sr. tries a lot to make them resign, through his equivocating words. But, they counter argue with him efficiently...... answering almost all of his arguments... they dont wanna give up !!

6:50 - KK-Sr. retains his magic. Uses all his experience ( & our heroes' inexperience ) .. puts forward a unanswerable argument.... silence prevails on their faces..

KK-Sr. at his peak. announces his final view..... only now RC & KK start sensing the unavoidable... AK already in his dreams.... KK-Sr. convinces them well, but gives them a chance to decide for themselves, -- asks them to decide their action by 9. Kids enter the arena, looking strangely at the bemused faces of our heroes... heroes take permission & go out for discussion.

Our heroes, all three being optimistic, have their own say, discuss what went wrong, their next plan, all three wonder how intelligent Kk-Sr. is, decide something & go back..

KK-Sr. : Yeah !! tell me guys. what did u decide..

All three shrug their shoulders in unison.... : "Sir!! We resign... ".

Thus......... atlast shrugged !!!!!